Road, air traffic triples during Masters week

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Traffic on the roads certainly cranks up during Masters, and traffic in the air is also expected to triple this week.

One private airline says the number of flights they've booked in and out of Augusta this year is already double what it was in 2011.

Flight Options CEO Mike Silvestro says even if you live here in town, air traffic still affects you.

"The business people that come into the community end up spending money, which ends up being a great boom for the economy. Of course, the Masters is one of the greatest events in the country, really in the world. So the level of activity that can be here can be a boom for the local economy here in Augusta," he said.

Silvestro said he's noticed the private aviation industry overall is doing much better this year than the last several years. He says that's a good sign for the economy as a whole.

Silvestro flew to Augusta in a Phenom 300 plane Thursday. It's just one of many private planes and helicopters landing at Augusta Regional Airport this week. The airport is planning for more than 500 flights this week.

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